Welcome Spring!!

Yay!! - today is the 1st day of Spring and I have been looking forward to this day for so many different reasons!... here are my top 2 reasons

1). It means warmer weather is on it's way! (I am so not a winter girl!!)

 

2). It is the release of our brand new Close To My Heart Catalogue/Idea Book (Annual Inspirations) - jammed packed with delicious new papers and crafting goodies to inspire your creativity!

...but that is just the beginning - today also sees the release of our Holiday Expressions supplement too! It contains lots of wonderful ideas and products to prepare you for Christmas and the holiday season... you can view the contents here.

 

September is also National Stamping Month, and this year Close To My Heart has something to help every kind of papercrafter say a big “hello” to life! Available only during the month of September, these exclusive C-size My Acrylix^® Hello, Life! stamp sets can be purchased for $21 each! or - for an even better deal, you can purchase all three for only $53 —a savings of $10!! Each stamp set is designed to fit with a specific type of papercrafting, whether that’s scrapbooking, cardmaking, or pocket scrapbooking. However, all the stamp sets coordinate with each other and can be used together to create dynamic artwork. These stamp sets also coordinate with shapes from the new Cricut^® Artistry collection to help expand your artwork options, even further. Remember, these stamp sets are available for one month only, so head on over to my Online Shop for one stamp set—or all three—before these gorgeous stamps disappear!

 

 ...and don't forget when you place your order for these stamp sets to add the September Stamp of the Month too - it's the perfect accompaniment for both your Springtime projects and the Hello, Life stamp sets. Here is a little preview of a card I made combining the 2 sets.


This card also uses one of my favourite "new" products released this month - Watercolour Paints! These paints fuel my passion for the Adult Colouring craze and I love that you can just play or unleash your inner artist with fancy techniques. The background for this card was simply created by "dripping" paint and water onto my watercolour cardstock and moving it around with my heat gun to create a marbled looking background...this is a fun technique to try if you are new to watercolour paints.

Another simple technique for beginners to try is applying a "wash" of colour over die-cuts and shapes... for this technique the 1st step is to adhere the die-cut shape to the watercolour cardstock and dampen the surface with water before adding the paint. A little tip is to attach your cardstock/working area to a hard surface with washi tape before you wet it. This will help eliminate the distortion (buckling and wrinkling) of the cardstock.

For the card below, I cut a title from the new Cricut® Artistry Collection multiple times (four) adhered them on top of each other with Bonding Memories™ Glue Pen and then applied a "wash" of pink coloured tones of paints across the title. The card was then embellished with Kaleidoscope Complements and stamped images from a new stamp set called Diamonds are Forever. The images were stamped in champagne pigment ink from the Basics Exclusive Inks™ Mini Pigment Pads Set, along with a few little star images stamped with the VersaMark™ Ink Pad and embossed with Silver Embossing Powder.

These cards also showcase one of the new paper packs released today, called
La Vie En Rose... a lovely romantic pack that contains some classic black and white prints.

I am looking forward to sharing the full array of new products and some more fun and advanced watercolour techniques with you over the coming weeks... it is going to be one very creative journey that I know you are going to enjoy!


 

Become a Crafty Chick

If you love paper crafting and sharing your creativity with others - you may like to consider becoming a Crafty Chick and joining the Close To My Heart Consultant family - Close To My Heart has enriched my crafting passion with Fun, Friendship and Awesome Rewards and I know it will do the same for you!!

Today, I am excited!!! to introduce to you an updated and super trendy brand new Consultant Kit... you are going to LOVE it!!  The kit is delivered directly to your door and inside you will find a gorgeous lagoon coloured box that says "Open Me"!  It is jammed packed with crafty yumminess -  it can be purchased for $130 AUD and includes the business and creative supplies you need to start your journey and is valued over $435 AUD - click here for a full list of the contents.

Are you a former Consultant? When you re-sign to be a Close To My Heart Consultant during the month of August -  using the same email address from your previous Consultant account...  you can choose from either a “business building essentials” version of the New Consultant Kit for $55 AUD or the regular New Consultant Kit (as pictured above for $130 AUD )  - simply by logging into your Close To My Heart account (using that same email) to qualify -  you are also given the opportunity to choose a new upline/mentor if you wish to!

Whether you want to be a self-funded hobbyist, consumer consultant, card club co-ordinator, digital scrapbook consultant, or even a career builder, there is a place for you on my team of Crafty Chicks!

Benefits of Being a Consultant:

• 22% discount on all CTMH products.
• Potential to earn FREE products with every order
• You can be your own hostess.
• Preview and order new products before they are released.
• Access to an exclusive consultant website - containing artwork, creative insider kits, tutorials, business ideas and so much more.
• The opportunity to earn your $130 kit purchase back in your first 3 months.
• Free on-line training program with creative, personal and business classes.
• Opportunity to attend corporate sponsored events and earn an all expenses paid holiday (every year!)
• Free online shop/website - with NO credit card fees
• An opportunity to purchase a Cricut® Explore Machine and/or Cuttlebug at a discount price.

Benefits of Joining My Team:

• Mentoring that includes product marketing, blog set-up etc
• Access to an exclusive facebook group for team members only.
• Card/Project Kits & Handouts – free & exclusive to my team members.
• Card Swaps, Awards & Incentives throughout the year designed for team members only.
• To be a part of “Chris's Crafty Chicks” an Australian wide team of creative and inspiring artists.

It is very EASY to JOIN in the FUN!

Start by clicking here  - then Let's Get Started ... fill out the form making sure your upline is listed as Chris Lothian.

That's it!! You should hear back within the day and your kit will be shipped to your doorstep.

 

   Do you have questions?  E-mail me for more information - lotfam@iinet.net.au

You are welcome at Close To My Heart! - Enjoy Chris xx

New Scrapbook Kits Available

Craft Your Style with these 3 Limited Edition Scrapbook Kits

 

 

Each kit is pre-cut and/or pre-stamped and comes with photo mats, embellishments, titles...  along with full colour instructions and a formula sketch that can be used again.

The kits can be purchased individually for $10 -  including postage..... to order or for more information simply click HERE  - when you place your order, the kits will be mailed immediately - hurry before they are gone!! - limited numbers only!

* Please note FREE postage offer is only available in Australia - more details can be found here.

Enjoy! - Chris

 

Stamp of the Month - You Are Wonderful

... for those of you who follow my Facebook page and/or are regular visitors to my Blog / Online Shop you will be aware that Close To My Heart have a list of retiring products - all in readiness for a new range of products to be released on the 1st September. It's at this time of year I start my "spring cleaning". I go through all my crafting goodies and use up any leftover papers, stickers, etc to make way for a new batch of awesomeness to take their place! - and that is exactly how this card came together -  co-ordinating bits and pieces!!

This square 6" x 6" card features Chalk It Up Papers and a scallop trim of a chevron patterned paper from the In the Pink My Crush Book. The sentiment was created by combining the Wonderful image from the July Stamp of the Month (stamped in black ink) with stickers found in the My Besties My Crush Assortment. Gold Bling Gems and Glacier Extra Thick Twine were used to embellish the finished card.....and I have a little secret for you - if you are a fan of the Extra Thick Twine?? (as I am!!) - stay tuned for the 1st of September, where I get to introduce to you some gorgeous new colours added to this range.

Don't forget during the month of July, when you purchase $32.50 in current retail priced stamps, you qualify to receive either the July Stamp of the Month, My Acrylix^® Life Is Wonderful, FREE or any one of the Hostess Rewards stamp sets featured in Annual Inspirations 2014–2015 or Seasonal Expressions 2 for only $6.50 That is a savings of up to $27!! The July Stamp of the Month is a lovely, versatile stamp set that is a great match for your cards and layouts that celebrate all the wonderful things—big and small—that life has to offer.
Additionally, the Hostess Rewards stamp sets have previously only been available as part of the Hostess Rewards program, which means now is the perfect opportunity to get those special stamp sets you’ve had your eye on! To get your FREE stamp set or your $6.50 Hostess Rewards stamp set, simply place an order for $32.50 of any current, retail priced stamps. This offer is available only during the month of July and applies only to the July Stamp of the Month and current Hostess rewards stamp sets, so spring into action place your order here and jump on this deal before it’s gone

 

Rainbow Card

I am not a great fan of winter and as I mentioned in my last post the weather here has been bitter! The cold snap we are having has also resulted in a string of dark rainy days. Melbourne even had it's wettest day since 1990 today. While I am happy to be out of the rain and indoors crafting, I really would love to see some brighter days ahead... but as the saying goes "you can't have a rainbow without a little rain"

The card I am sharing with you today, has a touch of my much needed sunshine and plenty of rainbow! The card design was built on a Kraft Cardstock base which really made the colours pop.

I created this card using the Rain and Shine Stamp Set (pictured at the bottom of this post). The sun was made using a shape from the Cricut® Artiste Collection cut from Canary Cardstock and the stamped image in the centre was inked in Canary Ink and cut into a circle. The clouds were created using the base and shade technique in Crystal Blue Ink and given a fluffy appearance by sponging small areas with White Daisy Pigment Ink. I used Silver Sequins to represent raindrops and a combination of rainbow coloured papers from the Paper Fundamentals Whimsy Assortment trimmed with a scallop edge of White Daisy Cardstock for my rainbow strip.

The Fundamental Paper packs are fabulous to use as foundation colour for any project, each pack contains 20 double-sided 12" × 12" sheets (2 each of 10 designs) - the same patterned design on both sides, one side with a full colour glossy resist. If you are a fan of this range ( as I am! ) I can let you in on a little secret. I have heard a whisper from our US Convention, that this range has some awesome additions coming it's way on the 1st September... so make sure you stay tuned.

In the meantime, check out the list of  products in the Retiring Items and While Stocks Last sections of my Online Shop - there are some wonderful products in both lists that I know you won't want to miss having in your craft collection.

 

Stamp of the Month - Life is Wonderful

The weather over the past week has been bitterly cold which has kept me indoors catching up on scrapbooking my 2014 memories... and I am not complaining! I have really enjoyed reliving all the travels my hubby and I ventured on last year - looking back at these times, makes you truly appreciate how wonderful life is!!... and how appropriate is this month's Stamp of the Month called Life is Wonderful ?? -  just perfect for this scrapbooking project.

 

 

 

... for those of you who follow my Facebook page and/or are regular visitors to my Online Shop you will be aware that Close To My Heart have a list of retiring products -  in readiness for a new range of products to be released on the 1st September. I love this time of year, it is sort of like "spring cleaning". I go through all my crafting goodies and use up any leftover papers, stickers, etc to make way for a new batch of awesomeness to take their place! - and that is exactly how this layout came together... just lots of co-ordinating bits and pieces!!

I mixed and matched papers from the Whimsy Paper Fundamentals, Chalk It Up Paper Pack along with loose pages from the Modville My Crush™ Book to build up the layout design. The page was then embellished with an assortment of products, Wanderful Complements, My Crush™ Besties Assortment, and Gold Sequins. I also cut embellishments from cards in the Picture My Life™  Chalk It Up range ( "know this" subtitle ) and pages in the Modville My Crush™  Book ( flag/banner in upper right corner ).

I used Outdoor Denim ink to stamp the "Life is Wonderful" title/sentiment found in the July Stamp of the Month set and Outdoor Denim cardstock as the base for my layout. The journaling box is also from the My Crush™ Besties Assortment and I intend to add my journaling when I complete all the pages in this project... easy to do when you keep a travel diary!!


During the month of July, when you purchase $32.50 in current retail priced stamps, you qualify to receive either the July Stamp of the Month, My Acrylix^® Life Is Wonderful, FREE or any one of the Hostess Rewards stamp sets featured in Annual Inspirations 2014–2015 or Seasonal Expressions 2 for only $6.50 That is a savings of up to $27!! The July Stamp of the Month is a lovely, versatile stamp set that is a great match for your cards and layouts that celebrate all the wonderful things—big and small—that life has to offer.
Additionally, the Hostess Rewards stamp sets have previously only been available as part of the Hostess Rewards program, which means now is the perfect opportunity to get those special stamp sets you’ve had your eye on! To get your FREE stamp set or your $6.50 Hostess Rewards stamp set, simply place an order for $32.50 of any current, retail priced stamps. This offer is available only during the month of July and applies only to the July Stamp of the Month and current Hostess rewards stamp sets, so spring into action place your order here and jump on this deal before it’s gone!

 

Stamp of the Month - Ice Cream Dream

Over the past few weeks I have been sharing art work created using this month's Stamp of the Month - Ice Cream Dream using a variety of techniques such as paper piecing and colouring with the wonderful ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Markers. Today's card also features colouring however, I have opted to use the Watercolour Pencils to add a different effect again. The colours I chose from the Watercolour packs were Bubblegum, Sunny Yellow and Autumn Terracotta.

After I coloured the images I used a Blending Pen (that had been dipped in a little water) to add a streaky appearance. Usually I would use the blending pen to soften and smooth out the colour however, for this card I wanted my ice-cream images to look a little like a Strawberry/Vanilla Swirl (with a touch of banana flavour too!!)

I chose Pixie and Canary coloured papers from the Paper Fundamentals Whimsy Assortment to co-ordinate with the colour of my ice-cream images and pieced together the card using scallop shapes - made with the Scallop Border Maker and scallop circle shapes from the Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection.... and because ice-cream is the best medicine for happiness!!!...  I chose to use the "Cheer Up Buttercup" sentiment from the Hostess Reward Stamp Set - Tagged with Love. The card was then embellished with some Silver Sequins and Pixie Extra Thick Twine.

 If you would like to view some of the other art work I have created with the June Stamp of the Month simply click here or here and don't forget there are only 4 more days to add this stamp set to your collection. Spend $75 and you can purchase this Stamp of the Month set for just $5 - that is a saving of over 70%...  when ordering from my Online Shop  you will be prompted to add this set before you check out -  easy, peasy! 

Time is running out fast for Close To My Heart's other June special - "Summer Crush" ...this really is a great deal you won't want to miss out on, all you have to do is purchase any My Crush book and its accompanying assortment and you will receive the co-ordinating stamp set absolutely FREE!  There are five lovely My Crush book offerings for you to choose from and you can find them here.